Kauakahiakahoowaha
Encyclopedia
Kauakahi-a-Kahoowaha 18th Alii Aimoku of Oahu
. He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu
and district chieftain of Koolau or just Koolaupoko, with his seat at Kailua. He must not be confused with his great-uncle Kauakahi-a-Kakuhihewa.
He was the son of Kahoowahaokalani
, 17th Alii Aimoku of Oahu, and of his wife Kawelolauhuki
of the Kawelo dynasty on Kauai
. He was recognised as the Moi of Oahu after his father was dead. On the subject of his life and reign legends are as barren as on that of his father, with one small exception.
It is stated that Kauakahi-a-Kahoowaha sent an ambassador named Kualona-ehu to the court of Kawelomakualua
and his sister-queen, Kaawihiokalani on Kauai, who are said to have been the first to establish the dreaded "Kapu wela o na Lii," a.k.a. the "Kapu-moe," (prostrating taboo) which compelled all persons, on penalty of death, to prostrate themselves before a high chief, or when he was passing by. On the return of the ambassador the kapu
which he had witnessed on Kauai was introduced and proclaimed on Oahu by Kauakahi-a-Kahoowaha, and it is intimated that his grand-aunt, Kahamaluihi, was still alive at that time, and actively contributed to the introduction of this kapu. From Oahu this kapu is said to have been introduced on to the court of Maui
in the reign of Kekaulike. The expression of the legend would seem to convey the impression that Kawelomakualua and his wife were the first to institute the "Kapu-moe" in the Hawaiian Islands
. Such would probably be incorrect, in view of the fact that the "Kapu-moe", prostration
before chiefs, was a well-known institution in all, or nearly all the principal groups of Polynesians
before they were observed by the visiting Europe
ans in the eighteenth century. Like many other custom with the Polynesian race, it may have slumbered or been discontinued on the Hawaiian Islands for many generations, and probably the Kauai chieftains were the first to revive its practical application and hence were said to have been the first to establish it.
Kauakahi-a-Kahoowaha's wife was Mahulua. She was doubtlessly of a rank corresponding to his own, but there exist no allusion to her pedigree in the legends or genealogies now extant. Their first-born, and perhaps their only son, was Kualii
. If they had other children, their names have been eclipsed and forgotten in the superior renown of Kualii. His son succeeded him as Moi of Oahu in title only for the suzerainty of the Moi who, since time of Kanekapua-Kakuhihewa, Kauakahi's grandfather, resided on their patrimonial estates in the Koolaupoko district.
Alii Aimoku of Oahu
The Alii Aimoku was the sovereign king or queen of one of the four main Hawaiian Islands. The monarchs of island Oahu, like those of the other Hawaiian islands, claim descent from Wakea. Nanaulu, a fourteenth generation descendant of Wakea was the ancestor of Kumuhonua, 1st known King of Oahu,...
. He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
and district chieftain of Koolau or just Koolaupoko, with his seat at Kailua. He must not be confused with his great-uncle Kauakahi-a-Kakuhihewa.
He was the son of Kahoowahaokalani
Kahoowahaokalani
Kahoowaha-o-kalani was the 17th Alii Aimoku of Oahu. He ruled as titular king or chief of Oahu and district chieftain of Koolau or just Koolaupoko, with his seat at Kailua. Sometimes referred to as Kahoowaha for short....
, 17th Alii Aimoku of Oahu, and of his wife Kawelolauhuki
Kawelolauhuki
Kawelolauhuki, Kauaian Princess or Chiefess, was the Queen Consort of Oahu, being the wife of Kahoowahaokalani, 17th Alii Aimoku of Oahu. Also sometimes referred to as Kawelolauhuku....
of the Kawelo dynasty on Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
. He was recognised as the Moi of Oahu after his father was dead. On the subject of his life and reign legends are as barren as on that of his father, with one small exception.
It is stated that Kauakahi-a-Kahoowaha sent an ambassador named Kualona-ehu to the court of Kawelomakualua
Kawelomakualua
Kawelomakualua was the 17th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as titular King or chief of Kauai. He was born about 1655. He was also called Kawelomakalua, in other sources....
and his sister-queen, Kaawihiokalani on Kauai, who are said to have been the first to establish the dreaded "Kapu wela o na Lii," a.k.a. the "Kapu-moe," (prostrating taboo) which compelled all persons, on penalty of death, to prostrate themselves before a high chief, or when he was passing by. On the return of the ambassador the kapu
Kapu
Kapu refers to the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations. The kapu system was universal in lifestyle, gender roles, politics, religion, etc. An offense that was kapu was often a corporal offense, but also often denoted a threat to spiritual power, or theft of mana. Kapus were...
which he had witnessed on Kauai was introduced and proclaimed on Oahu by Kauakahi-a-Kahoowaha, and it is intimated that his grand-aunt, Kahamaluihi, was still alive at that time, and actively contributed to the introduction of this kapu. From Oahu this kapu is said to have been introduced on to the court of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
in the reign of Kekaulike. The expression of the legend would seem to convey the impression that Kawelomakualua and his wife were the first to institute the "Kapu-moe" in the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. Such would probably be incorrect, in view of the fact that the "Kapu-moe", prostration
Prostration
Prostration is the placement of the body in a reverentially or submissively prone position. Major world religions employ prostration either as a means of embodying reverence for a noble person, persons or doctrine, or as an act of submissiveness to a supreme being or beings...
before chiefs, was a well-known institution in all, or nearly all the principal groups of Polynesians
Polynesians
The Polynesian peoples is a grouping of various ethnic groups that speak Polynesian languages, a branch of the Oceanic languages within the Austronesian languages, and inhabit Polynesia. They number approximately 1,500,000 people...
before they were observed by the visiting Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
ans in the eighteenth century. Like many other custom with the Polynesian race, it may have slumbered or been discontinued on the Hawaiian Islands for many generations, and probably the Kauai chieftains were the first to revive its practical application and hence were said to have been the first to establish it.
Kauakahi-a-Kahoowaha's wife was Mahulua. She was doubtlessly of a rank corresponding to his own, but there exist no allusion to her pedigree in the legends or genealogies now extant. Their first-born, and perhaps their only son, was Kualii
Kualii
Kūalii Kunuiakea Kuikealaikauaokalani, the 19th Alii Aimoku of Oahu and 20th Alii Aimoku of Kauai. He ruled as titular King or chief of Oahu and of Kauai. Kūalii is remembered for his famous kanawai, Law of Ni'aupi'o Kolowalu, which required farmers and fishermen to welcome and feed hungry strangers...
. If they had other children, their names have been eclipsed and forgotten in the superior renown of Kualii. His son succeeded him as Moi of Oahu in title only for the suzerainty of the Moi who, since time of Kanekapua-Kakuhihewa, Kauakahi's grandfather, resided on their patrimonial estates in the Koolaupoko district.